Want to hear the Beatles? Consider going to Japan. I have never heard as many Beatle songs in my life as a recent trip to Osaka. What is it about the Beatles? Why Japan?
Picture yourself at the Yodobashi store in central Osaka: a huge fashion and electronics store with restaurants on the top levels. For whatever reason the Beatles were on loop when I visited. “I don’t mind,” said a shop assistant. “You soon tune out.” (Apparently the manager is a huge Beatles fan.)
Walk through the electronics district of Den Den Town, in Namba, Osaka, and you will notice chain stores called Strawberry Fields and Yellow Submarine.
Even – and I am a little bit embarrassed here – the male toilets at Fukushima Station have an odd Beatles reference -- designer tiles that say, “Apple pie is a great recipe for everybody who loves the Beatles. Yam.Yam.” It makes no sense, may be just hip English speak – yet still it’s another reference to the Beatles.
Everywhere: shops, cafes, toilets. Conversations about musical interests even manage to swing toward the Beatles in my regular breakfast visit to the Ura Café, in Fukushima. Kozo Mabuchi, the wonderful host, turns out to be a big Beatles fan. Kozo knows all the albums, has seen Paul McCartney in concert, and loves the solo work of John Lennon. “I have learnt Blackbird on the guitar,” he says one morning, in broken English.
So, what is it about the Beatles? Why am I experiencing this in Japan?
Research tells me that the Beatles toured Japan in 1966. The tour became famous because of over-zealous security, public protests about the band playing the Budokan venue, and the great NHK recording of the concerts – this can be seen on Youtube. Then, of course, there is Yoko Ono and the official John Lennon Museum in Tokyo. Japan has also released the greatest number of Beatle album pressings of any country. Wherever I go the Beatles pop up: T-shirts, posters, in cafes.
Finally there is the Beatles Cavern Club. I discover this, by accident, one afternoon when walking through central Osaka. It is an old style British pub nestled among office buildings, bars, cafes and love hotels. What attracts me is the old style Tudor design – the cross hatching of wooden beams reminiscent of an English pub. On it wall is a large image of the Abbey Road album cover. Curiously, it is in reverse.
I decide to visit the club a few days later – cautious that I might see a corny cover band. What I see is a great surprise. It is a quiet weekday evening when I enter and there is no cover charge – just slightly inflated meal and drink charges.
The lighting is low. Behind the bar a barman is waiting to serve drinks. A cabinet stands nearby containing Beatle memorabilia: albums, press clippings and an authenticated brick from the original Cavern Club in Liverpool.
A sound mixer is preparing the mixing desk. Toward the front of the room, where several people are sitting at tables - smoking, chatting - is a stage reminiscent of the Beatles: a set up of microphones, guitars and the unique Ludwig drum kit with its simple yet iconic black and white lettering. Behind the stage, crossed by those strange English Tudor style cross beams, are four late career photos of the Beatles.
I order a drink and sit at a table. Reading a brochure - mostly in Japanese – I notice that an upcoming night will be celebrating George Harrison’s birthday.
The tribute band that will be playing tonight is called The Bambies. I don’t cringe at the name, imagining the cute story of the deer. I am used to these anomalies in Japanese English.
I see one of the members of the band – in characteristic gray Beatle suit – and introduce myself. His name is Sasabe Taka-aki. He is the drummer – Ringo.
We talk about the night. “We play four times a night,” says Sasabe. “We play at 7.30, 8.40, 9.50 and 11.00. We do an extra performance at 12 midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.”
The band will play six songs in each set, two of which are requests.
Sasabe is new to the band and has come to the Beatles fairly late in life. It is clear he has many other musical interests and relishes this regular gig.
Shortly afterwards the band appears on stage. All members are in gray suits - no wigs, thankfully – and it is clear that the band is not into impersonation but rather capturing an essence of the Beatles’ sound and look.
The first few songs include "Drive My Car," "I’m Happy Just to Dance with You," "Here, There and Everywhere," "No Reply" and "Boys." The audience favorite is "I Want to Hold Your Hand." It is clear that the early Beatles sound, with its rising harmonies and choruses, is the most appreciated.
The playing is tight and inspired. Each member following a style of playing that we associate with the band: McCartney’s Höfner bass, Ringo’s characteristic drum kit, Harrison’s rhythm guitar, and Lennon, leaning into the microphone, sharing with Harrison.
I chat to Koutaro Goto, the John Lennon of the band. He is older and a very seasoned player, having played in cover bands for a number of years, covering songs for artists such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Toto and Sting.
“We even played in Tokyo as the Bambies, one and a half years ago,” says Goto.
Goto shares vocals during the night and moves to synthesizer, creating a surprising sophistication to later Beatle songs such as "Hello Goodbye."
I stay for the second and third sets and hear a variety of songs – a mixture of early to late Beatles - including tracks such as "All My Loving," "Get Back," "Birthday," "Act Naturally" and "Everybody’s Trying to be My Baby."
I even get to hear my cheeky request – the lesser known song "Hey Bulldog." The band plays it extremely well. It becomes clear to me that this song - one of the Beatles oddities - has in fact matured with time. It has a real '90s guitar sound, not lost on the young guitarists, who relish the driving guitar riffs and belt out a fantastic version.
I am really impressed by the evening’s performance – there is great musicianship. This is not an impersonation, or a ritualistic paid gig. It is a sophisticated interpretation of Beatle music and one that shows a deep and studied interest.
While the venue no doubt picks up tourists curious at the English style pub, and an opportunity to see a Japanese Beatle cover band, it is apparent that this venue is also catering for a local clientele. “Thirty percent of the audience is regulars,” says Goto.
There is no doubt a small yet solid core of Beatle fans enjoy an atmosphere in which they can savor the sound, and share like-minded interests. We tend to forget that there have been small yet enthusiastic interest groups in Japan who have savored music such as jazz, and the Beatles, for many years.
What becomes apparent, as this night progresses, is how much integrity there is in the performance. This is something echoed by the international Beatle community - Japan is well known for its excellent Beatle Cover bands.
With other Cavern Club style venues in Tokyo, and bands with names such as The Mendips, the Parrots, the Bricks and the Silver Beats, it is clear that the Beatles will not go away. For a country that had a short direct contact with the Beatles there is a deep and long lasting interest.
What I do know, as I walk out of the Cavern Club, is the joy in the experience. Do a dance at the Cavern Club, or do a little jig when shopping next at the Yodobashi store. You will be in good company.
Darron Davies is a freelance writer based in Melbourne, Australia. He is a photographer and works as a specialist in education supporting creative teaching within schools.
© Japan Today
26 Comments
Login to comment
timtak
Understandable lyrics, and the band leader married a Japanese woman and promoted "Love and Peace" (as reported even in Japanese school textbooks).
The philosophy of "Imagine" was largely a result of Ono's influence and expressed in her book, "Grapefruit." In turn, the "no border(s)," people living together in peace, and above all the power of imagination to bring about desirable outcomes, are perhaps Japanese memes.
So, perhaps Lennon's partial conversion to Japaneseness helped to maintain Beatle popularity.
TokyoXtreme
An extra show at 12 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays? Well, that would be noon, yet my journalism sixth sense tells me the author meant midnight (12 a.m.). Sigh.
telecasterplayer
They're still popular everywhere else, too. No shortage of Beatles tribute bands in the world.
neverknow2
That's an easy one. When the US came to Japan, the Beatles appeared a short time later. People who had grown up with the US occupation adopted everything the US had brought with them. Music, food, slapstick humor etc.
This mixed with Japan inability to evolve, means that the things that were popular at the end of WW2, are the same things that are popualr in Japan today. Not 100% but somewhere along those lines.
goodDonkey
neverknow2 said:
Their might be some logic in that line of thinking if the Beatles were an American band and not a British band.
Now there is a statement out of left field.
IchyaWarFare
Why the heck is it stated as Japan as a whole? No Beatles stuff over here and it sounds like it is mainly in Osaka. Why not title it "Beatles remain popular in Osaka" or does that make too much sense?
Statistician
Ironic when you think they arrested Paul McCartney at Narita for carrying marijuana. I don't think he was very impressed with the place.
Potsu
Beatles songs were some of the first english songs for karaoke in Japan.Some older karoke places still only have Beatles songs on the enlish menu,kind of a default setting.The karaoke influence and the fact the songs are so easy to sing has given them a free ride here for 45 years.
jonnyboy
simple songs with universally applicable, generally very positive content. obviously must have been very appealing in post-war japan
Bungalow
IchyaWarFare at 03:26 PM JST - 20th April
Why the heck is it stated as Japan as a whole? No Beatles stuff over here and it sounds like it is mainly in Osaka. Why not title it "Beatles remain popular in Osaka" or does that make too much sense?
Elbuda Mexicano
What about the CARPENTERS??? They are for ever popular here on these islands right??
HonestDictator
Agreed telecast. The beatles have great music no matter what era, generations may pass.
JohnBecker
Errata:
The John Lennon Museum is in Saitama Super Arena, not Tokyo.
George Harrison was the lead guitarist, not the rhythm guitarist.
I once spent an evening at the Tokyo Cavern Club listening to the Silver Beats and had a ball. Anyone who loves the Beatles will enjoy one of these shows.
MeanRingo
Yodabashi camera doesn't play the Beatles. The Comme ca attached is the place that has had it on loop for the last few years. Horrible stuff really. That and a few other run-ins with Beatlemaniacs has caused me to really detest the band. I used to love them, but Japan's inability to grow and change has forced them out of the pantheon of rock for me. I blame you Nihon!
nath
MeanRingo - just give it a hundred years and you won't be bothered by the Beatles any more.
IchyaWarFare
Never seen it in Okinawa, not that you call that Japan or in Snedai, Kanagawa or Kyushu (Beppu) that I visited. Of course, I am not looking for it either.
greensatindress
Japan ruined the Beatles for me.
neverknow2
I understand your response, but the Beatles were kings of the world at that time. Even though they were British, their influence dominated western culture.
Noripinhead
"The Bambies". Cute name for an all-male band, though Ed Sullivan might have snorted a laugh introducing them. "And tonight we have a really great shoe..."
RichieDB
The name Bambies is not a tribute to the orphaned deer in the movie, but could be a mis-spelled version of the first club played by the Beatles in Hamburg, Germany, called the Bambi-Kino club. They were also called the Silver Beatles, and I assume the Bricks may be a reference to the Cavern cellar. BTW, it WAS an awful trip through Japan, but not as bad as their brief stay in the Phillipines. I STILL listen to them, but then again, I'm almost 60 years young. Peace
RichieDB
Oh Yeah,and Mendips was the name of the house in which John Lennon was raised by his Aunt Mimi. Don't know WHERE the Parrots came from, unless it's a reference to the fact that Lennon's father was a seafarer most of his life.
Mark_McCracken
Yodobashi is not a store. Yodobashi Camera is a store. Yodobashi Camera doesn't play the Beatles, it plays its own theme song, a pumped-up version of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, written by William Steffe in 1855. As MeanPingo pointed out, Comme ca is the store with the endless Beatles track. Comme ca store is located in the Yodobashi building in Osaka, as well as many other locations.
viewer
People like things that are popular.
BurakuminDes
The Beatles are and were hugely popular in Japan, just go to a karaoke and you will likely be asked to sing something from them! I find it ironic though that in a culture so pure and against any type of drugs, they love Lennon who was one of the biggest deadbeat heroin junkies ever in the pop scene!
JackDorff
Perhaps from one of their earlier names; Long John and the Silver Beetles
RockRanitzky
Dear Quarrymen-Fans & Beatle-Brains,
the first new Quarrymen-Single after 50 years "Never stop Rockin Rollin" can now be downloaded at iTunes, amazon etc.
Help to get the Pre-Beatles into the charts! :) Best wishes, Rock
iTunes Japan:
http://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/never-stop-rockin-rollin/id369472997?i=369473002&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Amazon USA
http://www.amazon.com/Never-Stop-Rockin-Rollin/dp/B003J314K0/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1273320515&sr=301-1